2 Kings (4 Kings) 20
Commentary from 7 fathers
And Ezekias turned to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,
καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν ᾿Εζεκίας πρὸς τὸν τοῖχον καὶ ηὔξατο πρὸς Κύριον λέγων·
И҆ ѡ҆братѝ є҆зекі́а лицѐ своѐ ко стѣнѣ̀ и҆ помоли́сѧ ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ, глаго́лѧ:
Lord, remember, I pray thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thine eyes. And Ezekias wept with a great weeping.
Κύριε, μνήσθητι δὴ ὅσα περιεπάτησα ἐνώπιόν σου ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ καρδίᾳ πλήρει καὶ τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ἐποίησα. καὶ ἔκλαυσεν ᾿Εζεκίας κλαυθμῷ μεγάλῳ.
гдⷭ҇и помѧнѝ нн҃ѣ, ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆́стиною ходи́хъ пред̾ тобо́ю и҆ се́рдцемъ соверше́ннымъ, и҆ ᲂу҆гѡ́днаѧ пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма твои́ма сотвори́хъ. И҆ пла́касѧ є҆зекі́а пла́чемъ вели́кимъ.
For which of the things in our present life seems to you pleasant? A sumptuous table, and health of body, and glory and wealth? No, these delights, if you set them by that pleasure, will prove the bitterest of all things, compared with what is to come. For nothing is more pleasurable than a sound conscience and a good hope. And if you would learn this, let us inquire of him who is on the point of departing hence or of him that is grown old; and when we have reminded him of sumptuous banqueting that he had enjoyed, and of glory and honor and of good works that he had some time practiced and wrought, let us ask in which he exults the more; and we shall see him for the other ashamed and covering his face but for these soaring and leaping with joy. So Hezekiah, too, when he was sick, called not to mind sumptuous feasting or glory or royalty but righteousness. For “remember,” he said, “how I walked before you in an upright way.”
Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew 53.6-7
And Esaias was in the middle court, and the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
καὶ ἦν ῾Ησαΐας ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ τῇ μέσῃ, καὶ ῥῆμα Κυρίου ἐγένετο πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγων·
И҆ бѧ́ше и҆са́їа є҆щѐ посредѣ̀ двора̀, и҆ бы́сть сло́во гдⷭ҇не къ немꙋ̀, гл҃ѧ:
Turn back, and thou shalt say to Ezekias the ruler of my people, Thus saith the Lord God of thy father David, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up to the house of the Lord.
ἐπίστρεψον καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς ᾿Εζεκίαν τὸν ἡγούμενον τοῦ λαοῦ μου· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρός σου· ἤκουσα τῆς προσευχῆς σου, εἶδον τὰ δάκρυά σου· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἰάσομαί σε, τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ ἀναβήσῃ εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου·
возврати́сѧ и҆ рцы̀ є҆зекі́и вождꙋ̀ люді́й мои́хъ: та́кѡ гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ даві́да ѻ҆тца̀ твоегѡ̀: ᲂу҆слы́шахъ моли́твꙋ твою̀ и҆ ви́дѣхъ сле́зы твоѧ̑: сѐ, а҆́зъ и҆сцѣлю̀ тѧ̀, и҆ въ де́нь тре́тїй взы́деши въ до́мъ гдⷭ҇ень:
And I will add to thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant’s David sake.
καὶ προσθήσω ἐπὶ τὰς ἡμέρας σου πεντεκαίδεκα ἔτη καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων σώσω σε καὶ τὴν πόλιν ταύτην καὶ ὑπερασπιῶ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης δι᾿ ἐμὲ καὶ διὰ Δαυὶδ τὸν δοῦλόν μου.
и҆ приложꙋ̀ къ лѣ́тѡмъ твои̑мъ лѣ́тъ пѧтьна́десѧть, и҆ ѿ рꙋкѝ царѧ̀ а҆ссѷрі́йска и҆зба́влю тѧ̀ и҆ гра́дъ се́й, и҆ защищꙋ̀ гра́дъ се́й менє̀ ра́ди и҆ даві́да ра́ди раба̀ моегѡ̀.
And he said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it upon the ulcer, and he shall be well.
καὶ εἶπε· λαβέτωσαν παλάθην σύκων καὶ ἐπιθέτωσαν ἐπὶ τὸ ἕλκος, καὶ ὑγιάσει.
И҆ речѐ и҆са́їа: да во́змꙋтъ перевѧ́сло смо́квей и҆ да положа́тъ на вре́дъ, и҆ и҆сцѣлѣ́етъ.
The vine, and that not in a few places, refers to the Lord himself, and the fig tree to the Holy Spirit, as the Lord makes glad the hearts of people and heals them. And therefore Hezekiah is commanded first to make a plaster with a lump of figs—that is, the fruit of the Spirit—that he may be healed—that is, according to the apostle—by love; for he says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance;" which, on account of their great pleasantness the prophet calls figs. Micah also says, "They shall sit everyone under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid." Now it is certain that those who have taken refuge and rested under the Spirit and under the shadow of the Word shall not be alarmed or frightened by him who troubles the hearts of humankind.
Symposium or Banquet of the Ten Virgins 10.5
And Ezekias said to Esaias, What [is] the sign that the Lord will heal me, and I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?
καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εζεκίας πρὸς ῾Ησαΐαν· τί τὸ σημεῖον ὅτι ἰάσεταί με Κύριος καὶ ἀναβήσομαι εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ;
И҆ речѐ є҆зекі́а ко и҆са́їи: ко́е зна́менїе, ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆сцѣли́тъ мѧ̀ гдⷭ҇ь и҆ взы́дꙋ въ до́мъ гдⷭ҇ень въ де́нь тре́тїй;
And Esaias said, This [is] the sign from the Lord, that the Lord will perform the word which he has spoken, the shadow [of the dial] shall advance ten degrees: [or] if it should go back ten degrees [this would also be the sign].
καὶ εἶπεν ῾Ησαΐας· τοῦτο τὸ σημεῖον παρὰ Κυρίου, ὅτι ποιήσει Κύριος τὸν λόγον, ὃν ἐλάλησε· πορεύσεται ἡ σκιὰ δέκα βαθμούς, ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψῃ δέκα βαθμούς.
И҆ речѐ и҆са́їа: сїѐ зна́менїе ѿ гдⷭ҇а, ꙗ҆́кѡ сотвори́тъ гдⷭ҇ь сло́во, є҆́же гл҃а: (хо́щеши ли да) по́йдетъ стѣ́нь де́сѧть степе́нїй, и҆лѝ возврати́тсѧ де́сѧть степе́нїй;
"Do you wish the shadow to go forward ten lines or to go back ten steps, etc.?" [2 Kings 20:9] What the prophet Isaiah said to King Hezekiah: Do you wish the shadow to go forward ten lines, or to go back ten steps? signifies the same thing by the name of steps as by lines, that is, the division of hours, which we usually mark twelve per day on a sundial; or, as Jerome says, the steps were constructed by mechanical art, so that the shadow descending each one would mark the intervals of the hours. It was then the tenth hour of the day when the prophet spoke to the king: Do you wish, therefore, he said, that the shadow go forward ten lines, the sun proceeding above the earth through northern regions to the east, which it was about to do daily in the usual course: or that the shadow go back ten steps, the face of the sun being turned backward and returning through the southern region to the east? But the king said, It is easy, he said, for the shadow to grow by ten lines; I do not wish this to happen, but that it should go back ten steps. For he saw that it could be a greater miracle if the sun acted contrary to its usual course, than if it proceeded in the usual manner; although much higher, i.e., lifted above the earth to the east, as if flying to the morning of the second day without any intervening night. For indeed those who live in the island of Thule, which is beyond Britain, or in the farthest boundaries of the Scythians, see this happen for several days during the whole summer, because the sun, having set for the rest of the world and placed under the earth, nonetheless appears above the earth to them the whole night; and it is visibly seen how it returns from the western part to the eastern lowly, until it is again given back to the whole world at the common rising, as both the histories of the ancients and the abundant evidence of our men of this age, who come from those parts, testify. However, those who inhabit the innermost parts of the south never see the sun return from the western to the eastern through the meridian regions.
Questions on the Book of Kings #25
And Ezekias said, [It is] a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return ten degrees backward on the dial.
καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εζεκίας· κοῦφον τὴν σκιὰν κλῖναι δέκα βαθμούς· οὐχί, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπιστραφήτω ἡ σκιὰ ἐν τοῖς ἀναβαθμοῖς δέκα βαθμοὺς εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω.
И҆ речѐ є҆зекі́а: ᲂу҆до́бно стѣ́ни ᲂу҆клони́тисѧ де́сѧть степе́нїй: нѝ, но да возврати́тсѧ стѣ́нь на де́сѧть степе́нїй вспѧ́ть.
And Esaias the prophet cried to the Lord: and the shadow returned back ten degrees on the dial.
καὶ ἐβόησεν ῾Ησαΐας ὁ προφήτης πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ἡ σκιὰ ἐν τοῖς ἀναβαθμοῖς εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω δέκα βαθμούς.
И҆ возопѝ и҆са́їа прⷪ҇ро́къ ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ, и҆ возврати́сѧ стѣ́нь по числꙋ̀ наза́дъ де́сѧть степе́нїй.
At that time Marodach Baladan, son of Baladan king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Ezekias, because he had heard that Ezekias was sick.
ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀπέστειλε Μαρωδὰχ Βαλαδὰν υἱὸς Βαλαδὰν βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος βιβλία καὶ μαναὰ πρὸς ᾿Εζεκίαν, ὅτι ἤκουσεν ὅτι ἠρρώστησεν ᾿Εζεκίας.
Во вре́мѧ ѻ҆́но посла̀ марѡда́хъ валада́нъ, сы́нъ валада́новъ, ца́рь вавѷлѡ́нскїй, кни̑ги и҆ да́ры ко є҆зекі́и: слы́ша бо, ꙗ҆́кѡ разболѣ́сѧ (ца́рь) є҆зекі́а.
And Ezekias rejoiced at them, and shewed all the house of his spices, the silver and the gold, the spices, and the fine oil, and the armory, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing which Ezekias did not shew them in his house, and in all his dominion.
καὶ ἐχάρη ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς ᾿Εζεκίας καὶ ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς ὅλον τὸν οἶκον τοῦ νεχωθά, τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ τὸ χρυσίον, τὰ ἀρώματα καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον τὸ ἀγαθόν, καὶ τὸν οἶκον τῶν σκευῶν καὶ ὅσα ηὑρέθη ἐν τοῖς θησαυροῖς αὐτοῦ· οὐκ ἦν λόγος, ὃν οὐκ ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς ᾿Εζεκίας ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ пора́довасѧ є҆зекі́а ѡ҆ ни́хъ, и҆ показа̀ и҆̀мъ ве́сь до́мъ сво́й сокро́вищный, сребро̀ и҆ зла́то, и҆ а҆рѡма́ты и҆ є҆ле́й до́брый, и҆ до́мъ сосꙋ́дѡвъ и҆ є҆ли̑ка ѡ҆брѣто́шасѧ въ сокро́вищихъ є҆гѡ̀: и҆ не бѣ̀ мѣ́ста, є҆гѡ́же не показа̀ и҆̀мъ є҆зекі́а въ домꙋ̀ свое́мъ и҆ во все́й ѡ҆́бласти свое́й.
And assuredly no gold or silver vessel was ever so dear to God as is the temple of a virgin’s body. The shadow went before, but now the reality has come. You indeed may speak in all simplicity, and from motives of amiability you may treat with courtesy the truest strangers, but unchaste eyes see nothing aright. They fail to appreciate the beauty of the soul and value only that of the body. Hezekiah showed God’s treasure to the Assyrians, who ought never to have seen what they were sure to covet. The consequence was that Judea was torn by continual wars and that the very first things carried away to Babylon were these vessels of the Lord. We find Belshazzar at his feast and among his concubines (vice always glories in defiling what is noble) drinking out of these sacred cups.
Letter 22.23
And Esaias the prophet went in to king Ezekias, and said to him, What said these men? and whence came they to thee? And Ezekias said, they came to me from a distant land, [even] from Babylon.
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ῾Ησαΐας ὁ προφήτης πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα ᾿Εζεκίαν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· τί ἐλάλησαν οἱ ἄνδρες οὗτοι καί πόθεν ἥκασι πρός σε; καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εζεκίας· ἐκ γῆς πόρρωθεν ἥκασι πρός με, ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος.
И҆ вни́де и҆са́їа прⷪ҇ро́къ ко є҆зекі́и царю̀ и҆ речѐ къ немꙋ̀: что̀ глаго́лаша мꙋ́жїе сі́и, и҆ ѿкꙋ́дꙋ прїидо́ша къ тебѣ̀; и҆ речѐ є҆зекі́а: ѿ землѝ да́льнїѧ прїидо́ша ко мнѣ̀, ѿ вавѷлѡ́на.
And he said, What saw they in thy house? And he said, They saw all things that [are] in my house: there was nothing in my house which I shewed not to them; yea, all that was in my treasures also.
καὶ εἶπε· τί εἶδον ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου; καὶ εἶπε· πάντα, ὅσα ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου εἶδον, οὐκ ἦν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου, ὃ οὐκ ἔδειξα αὐτοῖς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἐν τοῖς θησαυροῖς μου.
И҆ речѐ: что̀ ви́дѣша въ домꙋ̀ твое́мъ; и҆ речѐ є҆зекі́а: всѧ̑, є҆ли̑ка въ домꙋ̀ мое́мъ, ви́дѣша: нѣ́сть въ домꙋ̀ мое́мъ, є҆гѡ́же и҆̀мъ не показа́хъ, но и҆ ꙗ҆̀же въ сокро́вищихъ мои́хъ (ви́дѣша).
And Esaias said to Ezekias, Hear the word of the Lord:
καὶ εἶπεν ῾Ησαΐας πρὸς ᾿Εζεκίαν· ἄκουσον λόγον Κυρίου·
И҆ речѐ и҆са́їа ко є҆зекі́и: слы́ши сло́во гдⷭ҇не:
Behold, the days come, that all things that are in thy house shall be taken, and all that thy fathers have treasured up until this day, to Babylon; and there shall not fail a word, which the Lord has spoken.
ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται καὶ ληφθήσεται πάντα τὰ ἐν οἴκῳ σου καὶ ὅσα ἐθησαύρισαν οἱ πατέρες σου ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης εἰς Βαβυλῶνα· καὶ οὐχ ὑπολειφθήσεται ρῆμα, ὃ εἶπε Κύριος·
сѐ, дні́е грѧдꙋ́тъ, речѐ гдⷭ҇ь, взѧта̑ бꙋ́дꙋтъ всѧ̑, ꙗ҆̀же въ домꙋ̀ твое́мъ, и҆ всѧ̑, ꙗ҆̀же собра́ша ѻ҆тцы̀ твоѝ до днѐ сегѡ̀, вни́дꙋтъ въ вавѷлѡ́нъ: и҆ не ѡ҆ста́нетсѧ сло́во, є҆́же речѐ гдⷭ҇ь.
17–19Surely the just Hezekiah did not rejoice that the disaster of the captivity had fallen on his children, but he could not oppose the will of the Lord, and so he received the Lord's commands with patience like a humble servant. Thus it happens that one could judge that merit and virtue could be evident even in captivity. For Jeremiah was not less happy in captivity, nor was Daniel, nor Ezra, nor were Ananias and Azariah and Misael less happy than if they had not fallen into captivity. They entered into captivity in such a way that they brought to their people both present consolations in captivity and the hope of escaping from it.
On Jacob and the Blessed Life, Book 1, Chapter 8.36
And as for thy sons which shall come forth of thee, which thou shalt beget, [the enemy] shall take them, and they shall be eunuchs in the house of the king of Babylon.
καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου, οἳ ἐξελεύσονται ἐκ σοῦ, οὓς γεννήσεις λήψεται, καὶ ἔσονται εὐνοῦχοι ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος.
И҆ сы́нове твоѝ, и҆̀же и҆зы́дꙋтъ и҆з̾ тебє̀, и҆̀хже роди́ши, во́змꙋтсѧ и҆ бꙋ́дꙋтъ скопцы̀ въ домꙋ̀ царѧ̀ вавѷлѡ́нскагѡ.
And Ezekias said to Esaias, Good [is] the word of the Lord which he has spoken: [only] let there be peace in my days.
καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εζεκίας πρὸς ῾Ησαΐαν· ἀγαθὸς ὁ λόγος Κυρίου, ὃν ἐλάλησεν· ἔστω εἰρήνη ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου.
И҆ речѐ є҆зекі́а ко и҆са́їи: бла́го сло́во гдⷭ҇не є҆́же гл҃а: да бꙋ́дꙋтъ ми́ръ во дни̑ моѧ̑.
And the rest of the acts of Ezekias, and all his might, and all that he made, the fountain and the aqueduct, and [how] he brought water into the city, [are] not these things written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?
καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων ᾿Εζεκίου καὶ πᾶσα ἡ δυναστεία αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησε, τὴν κρήνην καὶ τὸν ὑδραγωγὸν καὶ εἰσήγαγε τὸ ὕδωρ εἰς τὴν πόλιν, οὐχὶ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐπὶ βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν ᾿Ιούδα;
И҆ прѡ́чаѧ слове́съ є҆зекі́евыхъ, и҆ всѧ̑ си́ла є҆гѡ̀, и҆ є҆ли̑ка сотворѝ, и҆сто́чникъ и҆ водоте́чь, и҆ введѐ во́дꙋ во гра́дъ, не се́ ли, сїѧ̑ напи̑сана въ кни́зѣ слове́съ дні́й царе́й і҆ꙋ́диныхъ;
And Ezekias slept with his fathers: and Manasses his son reigned in his stead.
καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ᾿Εζεκίας μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐβασίλευσε Μανασσῆς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ ᲂу҆́спе є҆зекі́а со ѻ҆тцы̑ свои́ми, и҆ погребе́нъ бы́сть во гра́дѣ даві́довѣ. И҆ воцари́сѧ манассі́а сы́нъ є҆гѡ̀ вмѣ́стѡ є҆гѡ̀.
In those days was Ezekias sick [even] to death. And the prophet Esaias the son of Amos came in to him, and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, Give charge to thy household; [for] thou shalt die, and not live.
ΕΝ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἠρρώστησεν ᾿Εζεκίας εἰς θάνατον. καὶ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν ῾Ησαΐας υἱὸς ᾿Αμὼς ὁ προφήτης καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ἔντειλαι τῷ οἴκῳ σου, ὅτι ἀποθνήσκεις σὺ καὶ οὐ ζήσῃ.
Во дне́хъ ѻ҆́нѣхъ разболѣ́сѧ є҆зекі́а (ца́рь) до сме́рти. И҆ вни́де къ немꙋ̀ и҆са́їа прⷪ҇ро́къ сы́нъ а҆мѡ́совъ и҆ речѐ къ немꙋ̀: та́кѡ гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь: заповѣ́ждь до́мꙋ твоемꙋ̀, ᲂу҆́мреши бо ты̀ и҆ не бꙋ́деши жи́въ.